Finger-board for violins



R. G. N. RAHNE.' FINGER BOARD FOR VIOLINS. APPLICATION FILED JAN.2. 1919.

In men tor R. QNRah/ne,

W Attorney Patented Aug. 10, 1920. I

T all whom it may concern: I

RUDOLF Gor'rrnro NILSON RAHNE, sub ect of the King of UNITEDU'STATES' iwnoLr Gomorrah); IILsoNjRAHNn; or eo'rTE IBonG, SWEDEN.

FINGER BoARD VIOLINS.

r Specification d eters Patent Patented, Aug. 10,1920.

(Application filed January 2, 1919.' SerialNo. 269329.

Be it known that I,

-'Sweden, residing at'Gottenborg, in the cation. i 1 j v This invention relates to finger boards forcounty '01- Gottenborg and Bohusand Kingdom of Sweden, have invented new and use ful Improvements in F lnger-Boards for V1olin's, of which the violins and as the primary object thereof consists in the provision of a-device designed to beef assistance in instructing beginners to play a violin or other similar stringed instrument and facilitate the teaching of the proper position of the fingers. The invention consists of metal pieces or other similar membersprovided with elevations, recesses or other suitable marks positioned upon the finger-board close to the strings, so that the marks are easily perceptible to the player.

According to the present invention the marking members consist of metal ribbons which are so attached to the fingerboard of the violin so that one ribbon will lie next to each string, thus enabling the player to locate the proper note, the same being indicated by the marks on the ribbons. The vibrating strings do not come in contact with the ribbons. Furthermore the marked ribbons are arranged so as to be easily of different instruments.

The accompanying drawing shows an emlpodiment of the invention, provided for vioins.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the neck portion of a violin with the improved fingerguide applied,

Fig. 2 a side-view of the same parts,

Fig. 3 shows a detail in cross-section and Fig. 4: the same detail in plan-view.

The apparatus is provided with two clasps 1 and 2, between which are extended a plurality of metal ribbons 3, corresponding to the number of strings 10, said ribbons being provided with stamped marks or elevations. 4:. When applied to the fingerboard one ribbon lies alongside each of the strings 10. The marks 1 are spaced at a certain distance from each other, for instance, corresponding to the distance of the notes. The outer clasp 1 is attached to the head 5 of the violin and the inner clasp 2 to the bottom of the neck of the violin, for which purpose the clasps are following is a'specifiprovi'dedwitha stationary flange or tongue 12 and asli-dable flange or tongue13, actuated 'by a thumb screw 14, by means of which the sliding flange 13 can be moved toward the stationary fiange'lQ: and thereby clamp the claspupon the neckof the violin,

as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

In order that the improved 'device may be adapted to beused upon violinsof various sizes and designs, the distance between the ribbons 3 must be adjustable to correspond -toithe distances between the strings 10. For

this reasonthe ends 6 of the ribbons 3=in the: embodiment of the: invention, as clearly illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4, are given an angular shape and are slidably arranged in the sides 7 of the clasp 1, thus projecting outside of this clasp. By pushing in or withdrawing the ends 6, the ribbons 3 are adjusted into their proper position in relation to the strings 10, and may be locked in this position by means of a thumb-screw 8, acting on a plate 9, and thus the ends 6 of the ribbons are secured against the bottom surface 11 of the clasp 1. The inner clasp 2 and the corresponding ends of the ribbons 3 may also be arranged in a similar manner, if it be considered expedient. To facilitate the sidewise adjustment of the ribbons it is convenient to divide each ribbon in two portions 15 and 16, whereby the one portion 15 constitutes the ribbon proper and the other portion 16 the end portion, which is fitted into the clasp 2. The two ribbon portions 15 and 16 are joined together by means of a joint 17, so that no breaking stress will be set up in the ribbons when adjusting their sidewise distances.

The ribbons 3 are applied so close to the several strings 10, that the fingers of the player, when touching a string will at the same time touch the adjacent ribbon 3. A device of standard. size may be employed, and the requisite adjustment of the distance between the finger positions is effected by a slight displacement upward or downward of the bridge of the violin. Although the device according to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing has for its object to serve as a guide only for the first position, there is nothing to prevent it from i being extended by lengthening the ribbons 3. The invention is not limited to the em- Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A finger-guide for violins comprising a plurality of metal ribbons, one for each of the strings, each ribbon being provided with a series of tangible marks easily perceptible to the touch of the fingers, and

means to hold the ribbons upon the fingerboard each obliquely below its proper string in such a manner that the string when pressed down during the playing will not touch the marked ribbon, substantially as described.

2. A finger-guide for violins comprising a plurality of tangibly marked ribbons applied to the fingerboard of the instrument, one ribbon alongside of each of the strings, clamping members to hold the ribbons on the fingerboard, the ends of the ribbons be ing slidably mounted in said clamping members so that the distances between the ribbons may be adjusted to suit the distances between the strings of the instrument.

ing the movable clamping members toward 5 the bent ends of the ribbons so as to hold the bent ends of the ribbons against the stationary members of the clamping members, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUDOLF GOTTFRID NILSON RAIINE. WVitnesses: v GUSTAV SETH, SIGURD CARLsoN. 

